 | Home > Technical > Leaking Steering box - normal? |
 
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558  
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No way does that look normal leakage being its only done that mileage
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13th Apr 2015 9:06pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17362  
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It's a common fault but it is unacceptable! Get it sorted under warranty and if possible insist on a new steering box not a service exchange, ie reconditioned, box.
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13th Apr 2015 9:47pm |
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| alby Member Since: 25 Dec 2014 Location: The Shire Posts: 159 
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ho hum I thought as much, just didn't want it to be so.
I remember something about not holding the steering on full lock for long as it could cause the steering box or pump seals to fail or is it my imagination or an old wives tale? It's not really done much tight manoeuvring, not while I've owned it anyway, and I don't think there's been any occasion when I've held the steering on full lock for a long period of time. Not had a box fail before, an early defender I used to own I had the pump fail and dump all of the oil on the a1. All others have been fine. cheers for the tip on new vs recon. Hadn't imagined that they might try and offer anything other than a new replacement, and I'll certainly be insisting on new especially since it's failed at an early stage. I'll get in touch with a dealer tomorrow, probably Duckworth's at Market Rasen. |
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13th Apr 2015 11:13pm |
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| alby Member Since: 25 Dec 2014 Location: The Shire Posts: 159
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Just an update...
It's booked into the dealers on Monday. They're going to have a look to diagnose it properly first, and then see what needs to be done. The warranty lady agreed with my request for a new box if it needed it due to it being a young vehicle. For future knowledge, where is it they leak from generally? |
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14th Apr 2015 10:15am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17362
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Most commonly from the seal where the shaft carrying the drop-arm comes out the bottom, but I have also had them leak from the top cover.
it is unusual for a new box to leak so soon, and it suggests that either there is a defect with the box itself (or it hasn't been assembled very well), or it hasn't been assembled properly on the vehicle. If one of the pipe union seals is leaking, for example, it can undoubtedly simply be fixed. If the box itself is leaking, it shoudl be replaced. My earlier comment about new not recon replacements is based on the experiences I had with my Disco 2, where the box developed a leak just before the warranty expired. LR would only fit a reconditioned box since these were the only parts available throught heir supply chain, and certainly at that time they were total rubbish. The first replacement sprang a leak within days, and when I investiaged you could see that the seal on the output shaft was crooked - totally skewiff! That box was replaced by another, which lasted a couple of months (and took me out of warranty) then started leaking from the top cover. In the end I bought a box of a breaked through Ebay, a box which hadn't been "reconditioned" by Landrover, and it has been fine to this day! I think that the problem is that the boxes are reconditioned by a firm chosen for price, not quality, and definitely not by the original manufacturer, Adwest. If I needed a new box now for any Landrover, I would get it from Adwest, not Landrover. |
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14th Apr 2015 10:47am |
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| alby Member Since: 25 Dec 2014 Location: The Shire Posts: 159
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Many thanks for the info black wolf.
Well my little black defender has been at a main dealers since Monday, and they confirmed that the top cover is leaking on the steering box and we're going to source a replacement brand new steering box from Land Rover and fit it for me. Have had a lovely discovery 4 SE in corris grey courtesy car from the dealers, it is simply awesome and I've grown very fond of it indeed. However I've just heard from the dealers that sourcing a steering box has been a bit of a nightmare for them! The one they ordered up turned out to be LHD, so they ordered another one and that was LHD too. So they ordered a third one which they got them to open the box on before they sent it out to the dealers and that one was also LHD. Apparently there has been some sort of labelling error somewhere and within the constrictions of the official supply chain there are no RHD steering boxes available to them. It apparently could be a week if not longer before they get their hands on one for me, so they've got Land Rover to organise a hire car for me in the meantime. I'm off over to the dealers this afternoon to return their discovery and pick up the hire car, so will have a natter to them and see what is what. Top notch service from the dealers, they have kept me informed all the way and have genuinely done their best, but I miss my little black defender 
I hope this isn't a sign of things to come though once production stops. |
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22nd Apr 2015 11:39am |
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| dailysleaze Member Since: 23 May 2013 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 237
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lol
I recently bought a Defender and was having the steering box replaced. It's a LHD and there was a delay because they got sent a RHD one by mistake  |
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22nd Apr 2015 9:05pm |
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| Stickleback Member Since: 20 Jun 2014 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 93 
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Perhaps this issue is not as unusual as we'd all hope. I had similar problems with my 2014 a week or so ago.
Took it to dealers, expecting to be told what the problem was and to bring it back when the parts have arrived. However they diagnosed the problem to a leaking steering box, and told me that the vehicle should not be driven and should be left with them until fixed. Have to say I'd noticed a slight leak about 1,000 miles ago but couldn't be ar5ed to do anything about it , putting it down to character. The OP made me think again, especially as it was getting worse.. Dealers have given me a Freelander, which TBH (and don't want to upset Freelander owners here) just is not my cup of tea. It seems much bigger than my 110, i.e. much wider on the narrow moors roads where I live. Much harder to accurately place on the road. some of this may of course be down to it not being my car and not wanting to damage it... Anyhow, I was told this Monday that the parts should arrive this Friday or next Tuesday - but now I'm not holding my breath as no doubt the wrong part will arrive. Farnells at Bradford have been excellent throughout, not in any way their fault that the vehicle went wrong and bits are hard to source. Good luck with getting your truck back on the road, and I hope they give you a decent loan car! |
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23rd Apr 2015 8:41am |
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| alby Member Since: 25 Dec 2014 Location: The Shire Posts: 159
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Lol daily sleaze. You best Look after that RHD box You've got as its rarer than unobtainium, rocking horse droppings, and unicorn tears. its even more rare than ******** EBAY RARE **********
Thanks stickleback, glad to know I'm not the only one affected. Mine was wasn't leaking that badly tbh, I drove 160 miles up to the Lake District in the defender last weekend, I just stopped regularly to check the oil level on the way up and back and it used next to nowt. It used about 50ml that was all. Yes I know what you mean about not wanting to scratch the loan car., not much moorland here in rural lincs but there are a fair few narrow lanes. The disco 4 feels massive compared to my 90, it feels enormously wide and long in comparison. Land Rover were supposed to be ringing me yesterday afternoon to organise a hire car, but so far not a peep out of them, despite the dealership chasing them and pushing them. I still have the loan disco from the dealership though so am mobile at least. The frustating thing is, if the defender was out of warranty I wouldn't have thought twice about ordering up the part, and would have had it fitted long before now. |
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23rd Apr 2015 1:25pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17362
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One thing to remember is that PAS fluid is very flammable, far more so than diesel. A hot manifold may be enough to cause ignition, so you really don't want it spraying around.
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23rd Apr 2015 2:25pm |
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| alby Member Since: 25 Dec 2014 Location: The Shire Posts: 159
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 hmm yes hadn't considered that tbh.
Fingers crossed Land Rover are sending a box out tomorrow so hopefully should have my defender back tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully this time it'll be the right one. |
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23rd Apr 2015 6:34pm |
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| alby Member Since: 25 Dec 2014 Location: The Shire Posts: 159
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Just had the dealers on the phone. Mine still not ready, still waiting for parts, will be mid next week now.
They have had another 14 reg defender come in today with a leaking steering box, and a third 14 reg one coming in on Monday with the same problem all with lowish miles. Maybe a dodgy batch? Despite mine being 64 reg, it actually went down the line in mid April last year. |
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24th Apr 2015 4:52pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558
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what is it with the later ones ?
p/s boxes intercooler pipes oil pumps axles breaking hub bolts breaking rev hang |
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24th Apr 2015 4:59pm |
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| NormanD Member Since: 12 Aug 2011 Location: Bristol Posts: 286 
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Cost reduction? NormanD WE191
2015 110 XS Utility 2014 VW Caravelle 180 Executive |
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24th Apr 2015 6:13pm |
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